Composite wood and concrete pile



Jan. 28, 1958 J; H. Fox

COMPOSITE WOQD AND CONCRETE PILE Filed Nov. 7, 1955 INVENTOR Joseph H. Fox

WIWZI/ AH-orneus. I

M z l v AW Q ite States Patent COMPOSITE WOOD AND CONCRETE PILE Joseph H. Fox, Birmingham, Ala. Application November 7, 1955, Serial No. 545,211

12 Claims. (Cl. 61-53) This invention relates to a composite wood and concrete pile in which a cast steel wedge member is driven down into the wood section and has joined thereto a metal shell which is filled with concrete and is an improvement over that disclosed in my previously filed applications, Serial No. 383,788 now Patent No. 2,782,606, filed October 2, 1953 and entitled Composite Wood and Concrete Pile; Serial No. 455,139, filed September 10, 1954 and entitled Composite Pile; and Serial No. 456,752, filed September 17, 1954 and entitled Composite Wood and Concrete Pile and Connector for the Same.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a composite pile of the character designated which shall include improved means for connecting the concrete portion of the pile to the wedge member which is forced downwardly into the wooden section.

A further object of my invention is to provide a composite pile of the character designated which shall include a bonding member which is attached to the upper portion of the wedge member and projects upwardly in spaced relation to the outer shell that surrounds the concrete, whereby the concrete completely surrounds the bonding member except for the connection between the member and the wedge member thus rigidly joining the wedge member to the interior of the concrete section.

Heretofore in the art to which my invention relates, difficulties have been encountered in anchoring the concrete section to the wooden section of the pile due to the fact that no effective reinforcing means has been provided for permanently anchoring the concrete to the wedge member which is driven down into the wood section, the principle connection between the wedge member and the concrete section being the connection between the outer shell and the wedge member. Accordingly, should the outer shell rust away, the concrete section is no longer connected to the wedge member by a reinforcing member.

Briefiy, my improved composite pile comprises a sleevelike Wedge member projecting downwardly into the wooden section and having an upper portion in the form of a relatively fiat ring which forms with the sleeve-like member a substantially T-shaped wedge member, as viewed in cross section. The inner portion of the ring extends inwardly of the wedge member whereby concrete may flow around and beneath the same thus anchoring the wedge member to the concrete section. An outer cylindrical shell is secured to the outer portion of the ring for receiving the concrete. To add further strength to the pile and to anchor the inner portion of the concrete section to the ring, I attach the lower end of an inner sleeve or bonding member to the inner portion of the fiat ring. The inner bonding member thus projects upwardly within and in spaced relation to the outer shell whereby the bonding member is completely imbedded within the concrete section with the exception of the contact point between the bonding member and the wedge member. The bonding member may be provided with suitable openings or projections for engaging the concrete whereby it is rigidly anchored within the concrete.

Composite piles embodying features of my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view takenalong the line II of Fig. 2, the concrete being removed for the sake of clarity;

- respect.

2,821,069 Patented Jan. 28, 1958 Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line H-l-l of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing a modified form of pile construction and taken along the line lIL-HI of Fig. 4, the concrete being removed for the sake of clarity;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV--IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing a further modification; and,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmental isometric view of the wedge member.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention, I show a composite pile embodying a lower wooden section 10 and an upper concrete section 11. The concrete and wooden sections are connected to each other by my improved wedge member indicated generally at 12. The wedge member 12 embodies a sleeve-like portion 13 having a relatively fiat annular ring 14 secured to the top thereof and projecting inwardly and outwardly of the sleeve-like portion. The ring member 14 may be formed integrally with the sleeve like portion 13 and forms therewith a substantially T-shaped wedge member, as viewed in cross'section. Secured to the outwardly projecting portion of the ring member 14 is a cylindrical shell 16 for receiving the concrete.

Connecting inner portions of the wedge member 12 are inwardly extending wedge members 17. As shown in Fig. 6, the wedge members 17 are relatively flat and are tapered toward the lower portion thereof as shown at 18. As shown in Fig. 1, the wedge members 17 are radially directed inwardly and are connected to each other adjacent the center of the wedge member 12. The main portion of each wedge member 17 does not extend the full length of the sleeve 13 and is preferably provided with a downwardly tapered portion 19 which is connected to the lower portion of the sleeve 13, as shown.

Inwardly extending projections 21 are provided on the inner surface of the sleeve 13 between the inwardly extending wedge members 17 in position to move into the wooden section as the wedge member 12 is driven downwardly.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing, I show a slightly modified form of pile construction which embodies a wooden section 10a and a concrete section 11a. A Wedge member 12a having a sleeve portion 13a and an annular fiat ring 14a at the top thereof is secured to the lower end of a cylindrical shell 16a. The wedge member 12a is similar in all respects to the wedge member 12. The annular fiat ring portion 14a extends inwardly and outwardly of the sleeve portion 13a to form a substantially T-shaped wedge member, as viewed in cross section. The shell 16a is secured at its lower end to the outwardly projecting portion of the ring portion 14a. The wedge member 12a is also provided with inwardly extending wedge members 17a and inwardly .extending projections 21a which are similar in all respects to the wedge members 17 and projections 21, shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6.

Secured to the inwardly extending portion of the ring 14a, by any suitable means such as by welding at 22, is the lower end of an inner bonding member 23 which may be in the form of a sleeve or other suitable construction so designed as to permit complete imbedment of the bonding member in the concrete section of the pile. In actual practice, I find that a metal sleeve member having perforations 24 therein is satisfactory in every The perforations 24 receive the concrete, as shown in Fig. 4, whereby the bonding member is anchored wholly within the confines of the concrete section 11a. As shown in Fig. 3, the bonding member 23 is substantially concentric with the outer shell 16a whereby the concrete surrounds the entire outer surface of the bonding 'member.

extending wedge members 17c and projections 210 which are similar to wedge members 17 and projections 21.

Positioned inwardly of the wedge member 120 is a vertically extending bonding member 26 having outturned flanges 27 at the lower end thereof disposed to engage beneath the inwardly extending portion of the ring 14c.

"the bonding member 26 is divided into sections 28 and 29 which are separated from each other a distance to permit the flanges 27 to pass beneath the ring Me, as shown. The interlock of the flanges 27 beneath the inwardly extending portion of the ring 140 thus attaches the bonding member 26 to the wedge member 12c. Preferably, inturned flanges 31 are provided at the upper ends of the sections 28 and 29 and projections 32 are provided on the vertical walls of the bonding member 26 in position to engage the concrete whereby the bonding member is anchored firmly therein.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised an improved composite pile in which the concrete section is secured rigidly to the wooden section by means other than the outer shell for receiving the concrete. By providing the inwardly extending portion on the flat ring, the concrete flows beneath the same thereby locking the concrete section to the wedge member. Also, by providing the inner bonding member which is attached to the inwardly extending portion of the ring, together with perforations or projections for engaging the concrete, the wedge member is rigidly connected to the interior of the concrete portion. This is of particular value due to the fact that should the outer shell rust away, the concrete is still rigidly joined to the wedge member by the inner bonding member.

While I have shown my invention in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not solimited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a composite pile embodying a lower wooden section and an upper section of concrete, the improvement which comprises, a cylindrical shell mounted on top of the wooden section for receiving concrete, a sleeve-like wedge member projecting downwardly into the wooden section, an annular ring secured to the top of said wedge member and extending inwardly thereof and bonded within said upper section of concrete, and means securing the lower end of said shell to said ring with the inwardly extending portion of said ring positioned inwardly of said shell.

2. In a composite'pile embodying a lower wooden section and an upper section of concrete, the improvement which comprises, a cylindrical shell mounted on top of the wooden section for receiving concrete, 2 sleeve-like wedge member projecting downwardly into the wooden section, an annular ring secured to the top of said wedge member and extending inwardly and outwardly thereof with the inwardly extending portion of said annular ring bonded within said upper section of concrete, and means securing the lower end of said shell to said annular ring.

3. In a composite pile embodying a lower wooden section and an upper section of concrete, the improvement which comprises, a cylindrical shell mounted on top of the wooden section for receiving concrete, a sleeve member projectingdownwardly into the wooden section, a relatively that ring connected to the top of said sleeve member and extending inwardly and outwardly thereof to form with said sleeve member a substantially T-shaped wedge member as viewed" in cross section with the inwardly extending portion of said ring bonded within said upper section of concrete, and means securing the lower end of said shell to the outwardly extending portion of saidring.

4. A composite pile as defined in claim 3 in which inner portions of the wedge member are joined by inwardly extending wedge members.

5. A composite pile as defined in claim 4 in which the inwardly extending wedge members are radially directed toward the center of the first mentioned wedge member and are connected to each other adjacent said center.

6. A composite pile as defined in claim 5 in which inwardly directed projections are provided on the inner surface of the first mentioned wedge member between the inwardly extending wedge members in position to move into the woodensection as the wedge members are driven downwardly.

7. In a composite pile embodying a lower Wooden-section and an upper section of concrete, the, improvement which comprises a cylindrical shell, mounted on top of the wooden section'for receiving concrete, a sleeve like wedge member projecting downwardly into the wooden section, an annular ring at the top of said'wedge member and extending inwardly and outwardly thereof, means securing the lower end of said shell to the outwardly extending portion of said ring, and a sleeve-like bonding member positioned inwardly of said shell and bonded within said upper section of concrete with its lower end secured to the inwardly extending portion of said annular ring.

8. A compositepile as defined in claim 7 in which the bonding member secured to the inwardly extending por tion of the annular ring is substantially concentric with the cylindrical shell.

9. A composite pile as definedin claim 7 in which perforations are provided in the bonding member for receiving concrete whereby the bonding member is anchored firmly within the concrete.

10. A composite pile as defined in claim 7 in which projections are provided on the bonding member in position to engage the concrete whereby the bonding member is anchored firmly within the concrete.

11. In a compositepile embodying a lower wooden section and an upper section of concrete, the improvement which comprises a cylindrical shell mounted on top of the wooden section for receiving concrete, a sleevelike wedge member projecting downwardly into the wooden section, an annularring at the top of said wedge member and, extending inwardly and outwardly thereof, means securing the lower end of said shell to the outwardly extending portion of said ring, a bonding member formed of sheet material positioned inwardly of said wedge member and extending upwardly within said concrete, outturned flanges at the lower end of said bonding member disposed to engage beneath the inwardly extendmg portion of said ring whereby the bonding member 13 attached. to said wedge member.

12. A composite pile as defined in claim 11 in which the bonding member is divided into sections which are spaced from each other a distance to permit the outturned flange to pass beneath the inwardly extending portion of the ring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,838,791 Sperry et a1 Dec. 29, 1931 1,916,702 Watt July 4, 1933 1,971,691 Nadel Aug. 28, 1934 2,290,855 Myer s July 28, 1942 2,701,449 Young Feb. 8, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 23,531 Great Britain of 1913 

